An EU move to revitalise biotechnology and GM food development in Europe has been strongly criticised by Irish MEPs, who claimed a key report on the sector's future is heavily biased in favour of industry.
Independent Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon and the Green Party's Ms Nuala Ahern claim the Purvis Report on the Future of the Biotechnology Industry in the EU was unduly influenced by the views of the main biotechnology companies.
Ms Scallon said: "It reads like a wish-list for the industry," adding that it had dismissed organic farming and included an "almost unrestricted patenting system" which would eliminate national patenting controls.
Ms Ahern alleged the report's "interventionist and unashamedly pro-biotech" tone was probably due to the input of pharmaceuticals giant Glaxo Smithkline in early drafting. Ms Ahern told The Irish Times. "I saw that with my own eyes."
A spokesman for Glaxo Smithkline denied the company was heavily involved in writing the report, saying "we gave our views in the normal way" when it was approached for information - as often happened when reports were written.
Ms Ahern said the report failed to address serious concerns such as ethics in biotechnology; public health; consumers' concerns regarding food; and the effects on the environment.
In a series of recent decisions the EU has attempted to bring biotechnology back to centre stage of industrial development. The European Parliament has voted in favour of the report which calls for greater institutional and financial backing - essentially asking for more money to be spent on biotechnology initiatives and for them to be more easily facilitated.
The EU heads of state at last weekend's Stockholm Summit strengthened this position, asking the Commission to develop a Bio-Europe Action Plan.
The parliament's acceptance of the report further concretes the EU's commitment in the 2000 Lisbon Summit to a "European Research Area" aimed at bringing Europe level with the US in research and biotechnology innovations.
The European Association for Bioindustries, EuropaBio, welcomed the EU's recent reaffirmations "that a competitive biotechnology industry will be a key requirement for Europe in the 21st century". The body's chairman, Dr Erik Tambuyzer, said: "We are pleased that the European Council sees biotechnology as an important part of the process of making Europe the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world."
According to EuropaBio, the Purvis report calls for support from member-states for research into biotech applications offering clear social or environmental benefits.